Altra Olympus 275 Review – The Walk

myEveryone has heard horror stories: people wandering into the wilderness and limping back to civilization with blistered feet, missing toenails, or even stress fractures. We are only as strong as our foundation, and for hikers, that foundation is our feet. Finding the right pair of shoes can make or break a trip. With so many options and features, it can be difficult to know what you really need and what you’re willing to compromise on.

In recent years, many hikers have gravitated toward zero-drop footwear. Altra gained traction in this space over a decade ago with the introduction of the Lone Peak, and the brand has continued to lead the zero-drop market with innovative updates across its lineup.

Among Altra’s most popular models is the Olympus, which launched its sixth version in 2024. But instead of launching an Olympus 7 in 2025, Altra took a different path and gave us a completely reinvented version: the Another Olympus 275.

What’s in a name?

To distinguish this model from the standard Olympus, Altra called it the “275,” a nod to the brand’s humble beginnings. In the early days, Altra’s founders used a 275°F toaster oven to heat mold their early zero-drop prototypes. Obviously, the brand has come a long way since then: today, Altra is one of the most popular footwear options on America’s long trails.

Another Olympus 275 At a glance

• Recommended RRP: $185
• Weight: 9.6 ounces (women) | 11.9 ounces (men)
• Damping: High
• Heel-to-toe drop: 0mm
• Pile height: 33mm

Olympus 275 for men here.

Review circumstances

I put the Olympus 275s to the test during the final leg of my hike along the Pacific Crest Trail 2025. I used them all over Washington state, from Cascade Locks to the Canadian border, more than 500 miles. After that, I added another 100 miles in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. At the time of this review, my Olympus 275s had over 600 miles on them.

I have used Altras exclusively since my first hike in 2021. I started with the Olympus on the Appalachian Trail and have used models 4, 5, and 6, as well as the lonely peak 4, 5, and 9. While I like the Lone Peaks, I prefer the extra cushioning of the Olympus line. On the PCT, I reviewed five different pairs: two pairs of Olympus 5s, two pairs of Olympus 6s, and one pair of Olympus 275s.

Read next: Altra Lone Peak 9 Review

Intended use

Altra’s Olympus line is designed for trails. They’re technically trail runners: essentially tennis shoes that are sturdy and durable enough to handle the course. Thanks to their high level of cushioning, they are ideal for long walks and ultra-distance races.

Altra markets them as best for “technical trail running” and “all-day trail running,” making them equally suitable for hiking, where you’re on your feet all day navigating challenging terrain.

Why Altra?

Altra is best known for two main features: one wide toe and zero drop.

Your signature Foot shape The design allows the toes to open naturally, unlike traditional shoes that taper to a point. This improves balance, stability and comfort over long distances. Altra offers three foot shape options: Original, Standard and Slim. The Olympus 275 uses the Original foot shapemeaning it has a roomier toe box and a wider midfoot fit.

The second is the zero drop design. Most shoes have a heel-to-toe drop of around 5mm, meaning the heel sits slightly higher than the toes. Altra pioneered the zero drop movement, where the heel and forefoot are level. This encourages a more natural stride.

All Altra trail runners, including Lone Peak, Timp, and Olympus, are zero drop. In 2024, Altra released its first non-zero drop trail runner, the Experience Wild, which had a 4mm drop. That model was updated in 2025 with the Experience Wild 2.

Olympus 275 in Washington’s Goat Rocks Wilderness along the PCT.

Features of Altra Olympus 275

Superior

The Olympus 275 is Altra’s first trail shoe to feature a MATRIX Upper: A one-piece fabric made of individually coated polyamide and Kevlar yarns. It is lightweight, breathable, abrasion resistant and supportive. For reference: Kevlar threads are used in Ursacks keep the bears out of the food bags, so yes, it’s difficult.

Other major brands such as hop, merrelland Solomon They have also started using MATRYX in their trail shoes.

Midsole

The shoe wears compression molded EVA foamproviding substantial yet lightweight cushioning. Altra classifies its cushioning into four levels: low, moderate, high and maximum. The Olympus 275 lands in the “High” category.

Sole

Altra continues its partnership with vibrationusing the megagrip Outsole: A tacky rubber compound designed for excellent traction on both dry and wet surfaces.

Built-in protective case

What’s new about the Olympus 275 is a scree sleeve — a soft, flexible fabric that extends from the collar of the shoe and hugs your ankle. Keeps debris like stones and twigs out of your shoes, reducing the need to wear gaiters. Although many Altra models have the Pipertrapthe 275 skips it and opts for this built-in debris barrier.

New Olympus 275 (left) compared to a very worn Olympus 6 (right). What a difference 500 miles can make!

Olympus 6 vs Olympus 275: What’s changed?

While the Olympus 275 is in the same family, it features significant updates, along with a $10 price increase.

Upper material: The most obvious difference is the MATRIX upper on the 275, which replaces the “engineered mesh” found on the Olympus 6. In my experience, the engineered mesh was less durable and more prone to bursting.

Cushion classification: Altra lists the Olympus 6 as max cushioned and the 275 as high, but I personally didn’t notice a difference between the two on the trail. They both felt the same support for over 30 miles in days.

Heel padding: The 275 eliminates the overly padded “Achilles pillow” of the Olympus 6, a feature that gave me (and many others) brutal heel blisters. I was excited to see this removed.

Laces: The 275 comes with longer lacesaddressing another common complaint with the 6. With the previous model, the laces were too short for a secure double knot; the problem was solved here.

Olympus 275 professionals

Durable upper

I was impressed with how well the MATRYX upper held up. In every other pair of Olympus shoes I’ve worn, the seams near the sides gave in between 400 and 500 miles. With the 275s, I expected the lightweight material to fail, but it didn’t. Although the fabric showed visible strain where my foot bends, I never suffered a tear or blowout, even after over 600 miles.

Cloud cushioning

I loved the EVA foam in these shoes. While some prefer minimal cushioning for a firmer feel, I appreciated the soft, supportive ride. The high cushion helped me cover many miles each day, even when my feet got tired.

Excellent traction

Thanks to the Vibram Megagrip sole, I felt confident climbing over scree, slippery rocks, and muddy switchbacks throughout Washington. The sole remained grippy and reliable even after hundreds of miles.

No more leaf litter

The scree protector worked surprisingly well. I’ve always worn gaiters, but the debris still managed to sneak in. With the 275, I rarely had to stop to shake off rocks or twigs. Note: A friend with thinner ankles said the sleeve didn’t seal well; maybe I just have fat ankles. Either way, it worked great for me.

Aggressive traction thanks to the Olympus 275’s Vibram Megagrip sole.

Olympus 275 Cons

Bulky feeling

Like other Olympus models, the 275 can feel a bit like clown shoes, especially if you wear a size larger. The wide toe and high rise create a voluminous silhouette. Not ideal if you’re looking for something fancy or trying to move quickly down the trail.

No more gaiter trap

The built-in protective sleeve replaces the GaiterTrap, meaning there is no easy way to attach the gaiters. Some brands sell adhesive velcro gaiters that you can attach yourself to the heel, but I miss the comfort of Altra’s original gaiter system.

Limited colors

Currently, the Olympus 275 only comes in two colors: black with red or green accents. Compared to the 13+ options available for the Olympus 6, this is a bit disappointing. Hopefully more colors will be available in upcoming models.

Not ideal for four-season hiking

The Olympus 275 works well in three seasons, but it is not the best choice for winter conditions. If you anticipate cold, wet weather, you’ll probably want to consider a waterproof trail runner or even a lightweight hiking boot. At the time of this review, the Olympus 275 is only available in a non-water resistant version.

For those looking for winter-ready footwear, the Olympus 6 GTX is available in both low and half versions, with leather and GORE-TEX uppers for better protection in snow and rain.

Climbing rocks to test the Vibram Megagrip sole of the Olympus 275.

Final thoughts

The Olympus 275 has become my new favorite hiking shoe. While I admit I’m already a fan of Altra, I really think this model is a step above the standard Olympus 6.

For just $10 more, you get a more durable upper, thoughtful design improvements, and the same comfort and performance Altra is known for. I got more out of this pair than any previous Olympus, and found them to be more cushioned and supportive than the lower-profile Lone Peaks.

If you’re looking for a zero-drop shoe with high cushioning, excellent durability, and all-day comfort, the Olympus 275 is a fantastic choice for hiking, trail running, or long-distance backpacking.

Buy the Altra Olympus 275 for women

Buy the Altra Olympus 275 for men

Comparable shoes

Mole Athletic Pursuit 2

• Recommended RRP: $150
• Weight: 8.6 ounces for women
• Damping: Half
• Heel-to-toe drop: 0mm
• Pile Height: 28mm

Hoka Fast Goat 6

• Recommended RRP: $155
• Weight: 8.2 ounces for women
• Damping: Balanced
• Heel-to-toe drop: 5mm
• Pile Height: 33mm

Brooks Cascadia 19

• Recommended RRP: $150
• Weight: 9.8 ounces for women
• Damping: Balanced
• Heel-to-toe drop: 6mm
• Pile Height: 32mm

Mount to the coast T1

• Recommended RRP: $180
• Weight: 9 ounces for women
• Damping: Balanced
• Heel-to-toe drop: 4mm
• Pile Heightt: 32mm

The Altra Olympus 275 was donated for review purposes.